Seed-drill.



PATENTED FEB. 7, 1905.

' S. E. DAVIS.

SEED DRILL.

APPLICATION rman JUNE 21,1904.

4 SEEETSSHEET 1.

PATENTED FEB. 7, 1905.

S. E. DAVIS.

SEED DRILL.

APPLIUATION FILED JUNE 21.1904.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2,

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No. 781,715. PATENTED FEB. 7, 1905. S. E. DAVIS.

-SEED DRILL.

APPLICATION FILED J'UNB' 21. 1904.

4 SHEETS-SHEET a.

lllilllill ays 4% 54147 No. 781,715. PATENTED FEB '7, 1905. S. E. DAVIS.

SEED DRILL.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 21.1904.

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NITED STATES Patented February 7, 1905.

PATENT FFICE.

SPENCER E. DAVIS, OF MINNEI POLIS, MINNESO'IA, ASSIGNOR TO THE MONITOR DRILL COMPANY, OF ST. LOUIS PARK. MINNESO'IA, A

CORPORATION OF MINNESOTA.

SEED-DRILL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 781,715, dated February 7, 1905.

ipplication filed June 21, 190A. Serial No. 213.547.

To (11/ whom. it inrty (an/merit:

Be it known that I, SPENCER E. DAVIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Seed-Drills; and Ido hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My present invention relates to seeding-machines. and especially to those having furrowopeners, such as disks, shoes, or hoes; and it has for its object to improve this class of ma chines in the several particulars hereinafter noted.

To the above ends the invention consists of the novel devices and combination of devices hereinafter described, and defined in the claims.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Figure 1 is a plan view, with parts broken away, showing a seeding-machine designed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken from front to rear of the machine on the line .1 a of Fig. 1, some parts being broken away. Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section on the line .0 .0 of Fig. 2 with some parts broken away and with some parts removed. Fig. A is a detail in section on the line .1" .r" of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a view corresponding to Fig. A, but with some parts removed. Fig. 6 is a detail view in section on the line w .r of Fig. 1, and Fig. 7 is a plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 6.

The numeral 1 indicates one of a pair of large wheels which are loosely mounted on the ends of an axle 2. The main part of the machineframe is, as shown. in the form of a pipe-section bent to form a large bail 3. The transverse portion of this frame-bail 3 extends at the front of the machine, and the intermediate portions of its backturned prongs are coupled to the axle 2 by bearing-brackets A. The seed hopper or box 5, which is of the usual construction, extends transversely of the machine and is rigidly secured to the yoke 3 in a position overlying and close to axle 9.. In the bottom of this hopper 5 is a transversely-spaced series of feed devices 6 of the usual or any suitable ctmstruction, which deliver the seed in the usual way into depending feed spouts or tubes T.

The pole S, which extends centrally and from front to rear of the machine, is rigidly united to the central transverse portion of the frame-bail 3, as shown, by ayoke-coupling 9. At its rear end the pole 8 is connected with the central portions of the axle 2 and hopper 5 by a boaringl,)racket IO and is provided with a tie-bracket II, which rigidly connects it to a rear end pole extension 12.

The numeral 13 indicates a seat which is supported at the rear upper end of a seat-bar 1%, the forward end of which is bolted or otherwise rigidly secured to the frame of the machine. As shown, the said seat-bar 1A is bolted at 15 to the tie-bar l6.

A transverselyextended tiebar 16, as shown. in the form of an angle-iron is located, preferably, at the rear of the axle and is detachably secured to the frame of the machine, being, as shown, bolted to the rearwardlyprojecting prongs of the frame-yoke 3 at IT and having at its central portion rigidly secured brackets 18, which in turn are bolted to the pole extension [2.

The seed-delivery spouts or tubes T already noted deliver into the seed-boots l of diskbearing brackets 20, which have the usual laterally-projecting trunnions :21, on which disks 22 are mounted. The supports are rigidly connected to drag-bars 23, which at their forward ends are pivoted to the transverse portion of the framcbail As shown, the drag-bars 23 are made up of forwardlydiverging bars, the forward ends of which are pivoted to brackets A, rigidly clamped on the transverse portion of the said frame-bail, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The furrow-opening devices are arranged in equal numbers on the opposite sides of the pole. It may be here stated that these furrowopening disks may take various forms and in some instances will bars 26.

be in the form of shoes and in other in the form of hoes.

At the rear of the furrow-opening devices are so-called press or covering wheels and 25, which are journaled in the rear end of drag-bars 26 and26, respectively, the for-- ward ends of which are preferably pivoted to the transverse tie-bar 16. As shown, each drag-bar 26 26 is made up of a pair of laterally-spaced straps, the forward ends of which are pivoted to lug-blocks 27, rigidly secured on the said tie-bar 16, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The two presswheels 25 at the center of the machine and approximately below the pole extension 12 are preferably wider faced than the press-wheels 25 and their d rag-bars are ad visably heavier than the drag- The free end portions of the dragbars 26are advisabl y tied together and braced by transverse tie-bolts 26" and spacing-sleeves 26 One of the bolts 26, as shown, is passed through the hub of the two press-wheels 25 and affords pintles or spindles therefor.

The press-wheels 25 are kept constantly in contact with the ground. Spring-pressure devicesinvolving thrust-rods 28 are pivotally attached at their lower ends to the intermediate portions of the drag-bars 26 and working at their upper ends freely through perforated brackets 29 on the pole extension 12. On each ste1n28 is a coiled compression-spring 30, which reacts against the cooperating bracket 29 and againsta washer 28 on the said stem. These springs 30 constantly exert a downward pressure on the press-wheels 25. As shown, a short secondary spring 30 is placed around each spring 30. These springs 3O come into action to assist the springs 30 when the press-wheels 25 are raised, so as to throw additional weight upon the press-wheels 25. The presswheels 25, therefore, at such time prevent the machine-frame from tilting downward at the rear to an objectionable extent, and hence prevent the pole from being thrown up at its forward end.

For pressing the furrow-opening devices and the press-wheels 25 to their work and for lifting them into operative position I provide a "novel spring-pressure device, the preferred form of which is illustrated in the drawings and which will now be described.

Extending transversely of the machine, in the rear of the hopper 5, is a pair of parallel rock-shafts 31 and 32. Both of these rockshafts are, as shown, sectioned or cut in two at their central portions. At their outer ends they fit into bearing-caps 33, that are mounted to rotate in bearing-standards 34, rigidly secured on .the rearwardly-projecting prongs of the frame-yoke 3, as best shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 5. The inner ends of the said shaftsion 12.

a pair of laterally-spaced latch-segments 38. Each latch-segment 38 is formed with a single lower lock-notch 39 and with a plurality of upper lock-notches 40. To the inner ends of the sections of the upper rock-shaft 31 are rigidly secured latch-levers 41, the latches of which cooperate with the notches of the respective adjacent latch-segments 38.

The rock-shafts 31 32 are both angular in cross-section. On the sections of the upper rock-shaft 31 are secured forwardly-projecting presser-arms 42, and on the sections of the lower rock-shaft 32 are likewise secured rearwardly-projecting presser-arms 43. The forward free ends of the presser-arms 42 are preferably pronged and carry pivoted presserblocks 44. Lifting-rods 45, which are pivoted at their lower ends to the disk-supports 20, work freely through perforations in the presser-blocks 44, and above the said blocks are provided with stops 46, which limit the downward movements of said rods through the said blocks. rods 45 are compressed between said blocks 44 and fixed stops 48 on the said rods and serve to transmit downward pressure to the furrow-openingdevices,as will presently more fully appear.

The presser-arms 43 are preferably prong-ed at their rear ends and carry pivoted presserblocks 49. Lifting-rods 50 are pivoted at their lower ends to the drag-bars 26 and at their upper ends work freely through perforations in the said blocks 49, being provided above the said blocks with stops 51, that limit the downward movement of the said rods through said blocks. Ooiled springs 52 on the rods 50 are compressed between the presserblocks 49 and fixed stops 53 on the said rods.

The overlying sections of the two rockshafts 31 and 32 are connected for reverse rotary or oscillatory movements by means of intermeshing spur pinions 54, which, as shown, are adapted to slide on said shaft-sections, but are normally locked against such sliding movements by set-screws 55, as best shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

\Vhen the latch-levers 41 are thrown downward, so as to engage their latches with the lower notches 39 of the latch-segments 38, the arms 42 and 43 are thrown upward, and the lifting-rods 45 and 50, respectively, are caused to lift up the furrow-opening devices and the press wheels or covering devices. When these devices are thus raised into inoperative positions, the excessive weight on the rear portion of the machine-frame will press the press-wheels 25 against the ground under increased force. No great amount of weight is, however, put upon the said wheels 25; but the -said wheels nevertheless serve to balance the machine. Then the levers 41 are thrown forward, so-as to engage their latches with one or the other of the notches 40 of the latchsegments 38, the furrow-opening devices,

Coiled springs 47 on the said Lil which, as shown, are the disks, and the presserwheels 25, are yieldingly pressed downward to their work under a pressure depending on the positions of the said levers, it being of course evident that the farther forward the levers are moved the greater will be the compression of the springs a? and 52.

\Yith the pinions 5 t inter-meshed with each other in a given position the downward yielding pressure put upon the disks and upon the press-wheels will bear a predetermined relation to each other for each position of the leverIl. However, this predetermined relation may be changed at will by sliding one of the pinions 5% on its shaft out of mesh with the co perating pinion and then bringing the said pinions again into mesh after first having turned one thereof and its shaft-section with respect to the other pinion and its shaft-section. This is an action much desired in order to set the pressure on the press-Wheels according to the condition of the soil. For instance, in very dry soil greater pressure on the presswheels for a furrow of given depth is desired than in damper soil. Furthermore, when a furrowopening shoe is substituted for the disk a greater relative pressure on such furrow-opening device is required. The above means for adjusting the relative pressures on the two classes of devices is also important for this latter-noted purpose.

As is evident, the. furrow-opening devices and the press-wheels 25 are simultaneously thrown into action and simultaneously thrown out of action by a common lever. Of course where the rock-shafts are divided two levers are required; but this is desirable in all ma chines of any considerable size, as it renders the machine easier to operate and enables onehalf the machine to be thrown out of action to avoid obstructions without throwing the other half of the machine out of action.

By removing the tie-bar 16 from the frame of the machine and by unbolting bearings 34: and removing the shaft-sections 31 and 32 all of the press-wheels 25 may be removed from the machine. This permits the substitution of covering-cliains or other form of covering devices for those illustrated in the drawings.

It is important to note that the drag-bars 23 may be readily disconnected from the transverse portion of the frame-yoke 3 and that the lifting-rods T5 maybe readily disconnected from the disk-support 2O simply by the removal of bolts. This enables shoes or hoes to be quickly substituted for the disks.

From what has been said it will be understood that the machine described is capable of many modifications as to details of construction and arrangement of parts within the scope of my invention as herein set forth and claimed. The machine described has all the advantages of a so-called low-down drill Without the objectionable features thereof.

The expression press devices is used in a broad sense to include devices which act on the furrow after the seeds have been deposited and either pack or scrape the soil into proper condition.

\Vhat I claim, and desire to secure byIJctters Patent of the United States, is as follows:

1. In a machine of the character described, the combination with furrow-opening devices and with press devices, the said devices having independent drag-bars, for indepeinlently connectingthcm to the machine-frame,of rockshafts having revcrselyprojecting presserarms and connected for reverse rocking movements, yielding connections between the forwardly-projecting presser-arms and said furrow-opening devices, yielding connections between the rearward-projecting presser-arms and said press devices, and a lever operatively connected to one of said rock-shafts for simultaneously throwing the said two classes of devices into action and for simultaneously throwing them out of action, substantially as described.

2. In a machine of the character described, the combination with furrow-opening devices and press devices, said devices having independent d rag-bars for independently connecting them to the machineframe, of a pair of rock-shafts, one having forwardly-projecting presser-arms,and the other having rearwardlyprojecting presser-arms, inter-meshing pinions, one on each of said rock-shafts, one of which pinions is movable into and out of mesh with the other, so that the relative positions of the two shafts may be changed, yielding connections between the forwardly-projecting presser-arms and said furrow-opening devices, yielding connections between said rearwardly-projecting presser-arms and said press devices, a lever applied to one of said rock-V shafts, and a latch-segment cooperating with said lever to hold the same in different positions, substantially as described.

3. In a machine of the character described. the combination with furrow opening devices and press devices, of a lever having independent yieldingconnections to the said two classes of devices includinga pair of arms, and means for adjusting said two arms with respect to each other, and thereby varying the relative compression of the said two yielding connections, substantially as described.

4. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a plurality of furrowopening devices, ofa plurality of press-wheels mounted to run behind said furrow-opening devices, some of said press-wheels being arranged to maintain continuous contact with the ground, and means for positively raising and lowering the other of the said press-wheels, substantially as described.

5. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a plurality of furrowopening devices, of a plurality of presswheels working at the rear of the furrowopening devices, yielding means connecting some of said press-wheels to the machineframe,for continuous contact with the ground, and means for raising and lowering the other of said press-wheels, substantially as described.

6. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a plurality of furrowopening devices, of a plurality of presswheels working at the rear of said furrowopening devices, yielding means reacting against the machine-frame and pressing some of the press-wheels into a continuous contact with the ground, and lever-actuated springpressure mechanism operating on the other press-wheels and on said furrow-opening devices and involving means for raising and lowering the same, substantially as described.

7. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a plurality of furrowopening devices, of a plurality of presswheels having drag-bars connecting them to the machine-frame, the drag-bars of a pair of said press-wheels at a central portion of the machine, being rigidly tied together, springpressuredevices operating on the said two tied drag-bars and reacting against the machineframe, to press the said two press-wheels into continuous contact with the ground, and leveractuated spring-pressure mechanism operating on the drag-bars of the other press-wheels and on the said furrow-opening devices and involving means for raising and lowering the same, substantially as described.

In testimony whereofl aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

SPENCER E. DAVIS. 'itnesses:

R. C. MABEY, F. D. MERCHANT. 

